New York Rangers Coaching Search
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

As the New York Rangers search for a new head coach continues, the one name that continues to pop up is the head coach of the University of Denver, Jim Montgomery.

The New York Rangers have said that they are looking for a head coach who is good with developing young players in their organization. The name that keeps coming up, at least from the college coaches being considered, is 48-year old Jim Montgomery, head coach of the University of Denver.

Jim Montgomery has had a very good career as a head coach. Montgomery spent three seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL), holding the title of general manager in addition to being the head coach. He led the Fighting Saints to the Clark Cup Championship during two of his three seasons and was also recognized as the USHL General Manager of the Year by his peers in both of those title-winning campaigns (2011, 2013).

His 2012-13 season was by far his best as the team posted a record of 45-11-8 (98 points) as they won the Eastern Conference Championship, regular-season USHL crown, and Clark Cup Championship.

Adam Micheletti, at the time the Director of hockey and business operations for Dubuque, hired Montgomery in 2011. Micheletti is the son of Rangers analyst, Joe Micheletti.

“The thing that stuck out was he was a great teacher — he kept stressing that during interviews. And he also wanted to win,” said Micheletti to Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post. Micheletti went on to say, “Certain people, when you start listening, you truly believe what they’re saying. He was immediately like that.”

On April 15, 2013, Jim Montgomery was hired as the eighth coach in the history of the University of Denver. He has taken the Denver Pioneers to two Frozen Four appearances winning both the national championship and national coach of the year award in 2016.

A native of Montreal, Canada, Montgomery played for Maine and won the national championship in 1993. He had a short NHL career as he went undrafted, then signed with the St. Louis Blues. He went on to play with the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens, Philadelphia Flyers and Dallas Stars for a total of 122 NHL games.

A coach who can communicate, teach and be supportive of his players. A winner wherever he has been a head coach and a man who accepts the responsibility for his team’s action.

Montgomery seems to be the man James Dolan and the Rangers are looking for. Only time will tell if this partnership will evolve, but Montgomery seems to be the coach the Rangers need to turn things around.

A graduate of St. John's University class of '91. I have been a fan of the New York Rangers since the days of Peter Puck. Founder of Ranger Proud, the Facebook page that covers all news, notes, pre /post-game stats, and player quotes. I can be reached at Nyrfc12@gmail.com